Mississippi is one of the most underrated fishing states in the country. Cheap licenses, warm water most of the year, and bass that grow fat on crawfish and shad in the Delta's rich waters. The mighty Mississippi River forms the entire western border, the Gulf Coast sits to the south, and in between you've got hundreds of reservoirs, oxbow lakes, and creek systems full of fish. Catfish is king here - this is the state that invented the farm-raised catfish industry - but the bass fishing is what brings tournament anglers back year after year. If you like warm weather, easy access, and aggressive fish, Mississippi delivers.
Fishing License in Mississippi
Mississippi has some of the cheapest fishing licenses in the country. Anyone 16 or older needs one. Buy online through the MDWFP, at Walmart, or at most sporting goods stores. Takes about three minutes.
| License Type | Cost | Valid For |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Freshwater | $8 | 1 year |
| Non-Resident Freshwater | $30 | 1 year |
| Non-Resident 3-Day | $15 | 3 days |
| Resident Saltwater | $10 | 1 year |
| Non-Resident Saltwater | $30 | 1 year |
| Youth (Under 16) | Free | N/A |
| Senior (65+ Resident) | Free | Lifetime |
Age exemptions: Kids under 16 fish free. Mississippi residents 65 and older get a free lifetime sportsman's license that covers freshwater and saltwater fishing. Active military on leave may also qualify.
Special permits: A separate saltwater license is needed for Gulf Coast fishing. Trout fishing at designated stocked lakes requires a trout permit add-on. No separate stamps for bass or catfish.
Buy your license or check current fees on the MDWFP website.
Top 10 Fishing Spots in Mississippi
From massive reservoirs to hidden Delta oxbows, Mississippi has water everywhere. These ten spots are where the locals go when they want to put fish in the boat.
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Download Free GuidePopular Fish Species in Mississippi
Warm water means aggressive fish with long growing seasons. Mississippi bass and catfish get big. Here are the main species and general limits.
| Species | Season | Size Limit | Bag Limit | Best Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Year-round | None | 8/day | Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, frogs |
| Channel Catfish | Year-round | None | No limit | Cut bait, chicken liver, stink bait |
| Crappie | Year-round | None | 30/day | Minnows, small jigs, spider rigging |
| Bluegill | Year-round | None | No limit | Crickets, worms, small flies |
| Redear Sunfish | Year-round | None | No limit | Red worms, crickets, small jigs |
Seasonal Fishing Calendar
Mississippi's warm climate means fish are active most of the year. Summer heat slows things slightly, but early morning and evening bites stay productive.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | - | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | - | - | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Catfish | - | - | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | - | - |
| Crappie | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | - | - | - | - | Good | Peak | Good |
| Bluegill | - | - | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | - | - |
| Redear Sunfish | - | - | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | - | - | - | - | - |
Fishing Regulations in Mississippi
Mississippi keeps its regulations relatively simple compared to northern states. The MDWFP updates rules annually. Here are the highlights.
- Fishing hours: You can fish 24 hours a day in Mississippi unless specifically posted otherwise.
- Rod limit: No statewide limit on the number of rods. You can use as many as you can manage.
- Trotlines and juglines: Legal in most waters. Trotlines must be tagged with name and address. Must be checked daily. Jugging is a popular tradition throughout the Delta.
- Live bait: Live bait is legal in all public waters. Game fish cannot be used as live bait. Bream and shad are popular for catfish setups.
- Catch and release: Some reservoirs have special bass regulations including slot limits. Check the specific lake regulations before keeping fish.
- Bowfishing: Legal for non-game species including gar, buffalo, and carp. A regular fishing license is required. Night bowfishing is popular in the Delta.
Download the current regulations from the MDWFP Fishing and Boating page.
Tips for Fishing in Mississippi
Fish the spawn early
Bass spawn as early as February in southern Mississippi and March in the north. That's a month or two ahead of most states. When anglers up north are still waiting for ice-out, you can be catching pre-spawn bass on lipless crankbaits and jerkbaits in the Delta. This early season window is the best bass fishing of the year.
Spider rig for crappie
Spider rigging is a Mississippi tradition. Mount 6-8 long rods off the front of a slow-moving boat, each with a minnow or jig at a different depth, and troll through the timber. When you find the school, anchor up and work the spot. Grenada Lake and Ross Barnett are the best spider-rigging destinations in the state.
Night fish in summer
When it's 95 degrees and humid in July, the fish don't feed during the day. Shift your schedule. Catfish and bass both feed aggressively after dark. Run jugs for catfish, fish topwater lures for bass along the banks, or set up on a lighted dock and catch crappie. The heat is brutal, but the night bite compensates.
Explore the oxbow lakes
The Mississippi Delta is full of old river channels that became isolated lakes. These oxbows are shallow, fertile, and packed with bass, crappie, and panfish. Many have public access but see very little fishing pressure. A jon boat or kayak is all you need. Lake Washington, Moon Lake, and Eagle Lake are the bigger ones, but dozens of unnamed oxbows fish just as well.
Don't sleep on saltwater
The Mississippi Gulf Coast doesn't get the attention of Louisiana or Florida, but the fishing is solid. Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder in the bays and sounds. Charter boats run offshore for red snapper, tuna, and cobia. Biloxi and Pass Christian have good public pier fishing for families.
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